If you’re looking for a unique cafe in the lively streets of Hongdae, check out Hongdae Cafe, the largest cafe in Seoul with eight themed floors. Each floor offers something different, like a rooftop view, K-POP media, LP music, and an art gallery. Enjoy delicious desserts and coffee, and don’t forget to get a free dacquoise with your drink order using a Creatrip coupon!
Hongdae Cafe
Our Visit
Today, I visited 'Hongdae Cafe', located a 10-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station. It's an 8-story building that is entirely a cafe, filled with a different theme on each floor, ranging from a rooftop DJ to K-POP media, LP music, and a gallery.
First, go to the 8th floor and order coffee before you can use all the other floors.
As soon as I stepped onto the 8th floor, I really liked the store that was decorated with a really spacious and stylish interior.
There were so many different coffees/drinks and desserts that I had a hard time choosing what to get. Among them, we ordered the signature drinks, 'Strawberry Latte' and 'Red Berry Iced Tea', as well as the owner-recommended drinks, 'Red Lychee Iced Tea' and 'Americano'. For dessert, we ordered Dacquoise, double Dacquoise in various flavors, Choco Terrine, and original butter custard.
Strawberry Latte
Strawberry had strawberry chunks, making it fresh and sweet, and it was really delicious. We recommend stirring it with a straw to enjoy it in perfect condition!
Red Lychee Iced Tea
Red Lychee Iced Tea had a strong lychee flavor that was impressive. Be sure to stir with a straw and enjoy the rich flavor of Redrich!
Red Berries Iced Tea
It was a drink where the tanginess of raspberry and the sweetness of strawberry blended perfectly. Stir well with a straw so that the syrup at the bottom can mix properly.
We can't leave out the Americano, it has a great balance of bitterness, acidity, and sweetness. Next, I tried desserts that go well with coffee.
Choco Terrine
This dessert had a really dense and rich chocolate flavor.
Choco Crookie
I also tried a trendy dessert called croffle. The outside was crispy, but the chewy chocolate cookie I bit into was really delicious.
Dacquoise
I also tasted the Salt, Double Chocolate, and Strawberry Dacquoise. Especially, the crisp meringue texture doesn't get damp over time and is filled with refreshing strawberry cream, which left a lasting impression.
Double Dacquoise
The double dacquoise with two flavors of cream sandwiched in between was really delicious. I tried two flavors, Black Sesame Injeolmi and Matcha Red Bean Paste. In particular, I highly recommend the Matcha Red Bean Dacquoise because the bitter matcha and the subtle sweetness of the red bean paste are harmoniously balanced.
Original Butter Custard
Lastly, I also tried the original butter custard. The rich flavor of butter and the sweetness of the smooth custard cream filled my mouth, making me very satisfied.
And there are water fountains on each floor, so you can drink water easily. Please dispose of used paper cups in the recycling bin.
Shall we move on to fully enjoy the cafe now? Don't forget to take your ordered drink with you when you ride the elevator!
The first thing I did was go up to the rooftop. It is not common to be able to see the whole Hongdae area, but it was a really special experience to capture the charm of Hongdae spread out in a wide view at a glance.
The charm of the rooftop is that you can enjoy the sunset! It was impressive during the day, but the sunset in the evening had a romance and atmosphere that was even more special. If you want to take a perfect photo, I recommend visiting the rooftop at sunset!
Next, I moved to the 7th floor K-POP MEDIA. You can enjoy different media art exhibitions that change every time you visit.
Not only that, but it is filled with bean bags, so you can relax and enjoy your coffee. It was a perfect space to relax and heal my tired body during the trip.
Next, I went to LP MUSIC on the 6th floor. Personally, this was the space that excited me the most.
On this floor, you can pick out and listen to various LPs yourself. Enjoying great music with coffee, it's already pleasant to even imagine, and there are high-quality speakers and an LP turntable!
Choose your favorite LP from the various LPs available and ask a staff member to play it for you right away. I chose Chet Baker's LP, and the smooth jazz melodies blended with the atmosphere perfectly. It was really nice.
Next, we moved to the gallery on the 5th floor. It was perfect for having a pleasant conversation in a quiet and spacious environment.
The 4th floor STONE VALLEY was a unique space decorated with natural landscaping The sound of water was heard together, making it feel like we were playing in a valley.
The plant observatory on the third floor was the most impressive space. The entire floor is filled with cacti. Isn't it amazing that you can see such a variety of plants and cacti without going to a botanical garden?
It was one of those places where photos come out really well no matter where you sit. Drinking coffee in such a wonderful place, it has to be delicious.
The basement floor has a performance hall and a storage room. Please note that the performance venue operates only when there are planned performances, and you can store your belongings for free in the storage area when using the cafe.
Here is how to use the storage locker. Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese explanations are provided, so there's no need to worry.
First, select the desired box.
And set up a password.
Then print the receipt indicating the used section.
When the selected box lights up blue, it will unlock for use.
It's quite spacious so storing luggage is easy.
Please finish storing your luggage and close the door. You need to verify that the red light is on to ensure it is properly closed.
This is how to recover your luggage.
Please select the compartment you used again.
Please enter the password you previously set. And reclaim your baggage. Enjoy a special time with a stunning rooftop view, high-quality music, delicious desserts, and coffee at 'Hongdae Cafe' where you can fully experience the charm of Hongdae!
How to Get There
Hongdae Cafe
If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
